Vacuum feed device.



0, L. LOUGHED.

VACUUM FEED DEVICE. M'PLmATroN HLED'MAR.H.1915.

Patented Ian. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET mmm? 0. L. LOUGHEAD.

VACUUM FEED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. II, 1916.

LNAH.. PaIenIed hummm 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 5,?/38

0. L. LOUGHEAD.

VACUUM FEED DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAII. II. IsIs.

Patented 1an. 16, 1917.

I'IIIIII VENTO/C? Mmc-Ml cfg-magg ATTRN: YE

@SCM 14. LUUGHEAD, 01E' RACINE, WISCUNSXN'.

yacen-rr rnrn neuron.

Specincation of Letters Patent.

Patented dan.. 1h, 11211'.

Application tiled March 11, 1916. Serial No. tatto.

The invention relates to vacuum feed devices.

'llhe invention isdesigned more particularly to provide a vacuum feeddevice for feeding combustible fluid from a source of supply to anexplosion engine.

Vacuum feed devices for feeding combustible Huid from a tank to thecarburetcr of an internal 'combustion engine are now ern-V f ployed,particularly on automobiles, where," the Huid tank is mounted below thelevel the carbureter and the present inventionfisv provide a simpledevice of this designed kto character.

The present vacuum feed devicesa're oli-l jectionable because of the useof an upper or Heat chamber and a lower of fsupe ply chamber. Thepresent invention is de# signed to obviate these difficulties by the useof a single chamber which forms both a float and supply chamber.

'lhe invent-ion is further designed to provide a device of the typedescribed which may be made as a separate unit and con-r nected up tothecarbureter andthe en ine or which may be made to' form apart ol thecarbureter itself by attaching.l it to the bowl of the carbureter. y

rl`he invention is further designed-to provide a new and improvedform offluidgfuel feeding device for internal cOmbustionen# nes. y glr1`heinvention further consists in thefseveral features hereinafter set forthand more particularly clusion hereof. 1- l ln the drawings: lFigurel isa plan-view of the devicey embodying the invention,

- showing it incorporated with the carbureter, parts being broken awayand partsb'eing shown in section; Fi 2 `is a section taken on the line2-2 of dfi a section taken on the line 3 3 of-lFig. 1;

Fig. 4C is a section taken on the line 4 4 ofV Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is asection taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionaldefined by claims 'at' the con-l view of a device embodying theinvention, showing it as a separate unit.

1n general, the device comprises a chamber into which the combustibleHuid is moved or carried from the supply tank by the partial vacuumcreated in the engine cylinder' or cylinders of an explosion engine bythe reciprocation lof the piston or pistons therein so that it will flowby gravity from this chamber into the carbureter.

'llhe device comprises a reservoir or combined supply and tioat chamber8, a suction conduit, a valve in said suction conduit, an air conduit, avalve in said air conduit, float controlled means for operating saidvalves, a fuel supply conduit, a carbureter-supply conduit, a valve insaid carbureter-supply conduit and when used directly with thecarbureter a doat chamber and valve con- Structed as hereinafterdescribed.

The reservoir 8 comprises a circular base 9,. a tubular casing 10,preferably of glass Seated within the annular flange portion 11 of saidbase upon a washer 12, a circular top 13 having a depending annularflange 14 for receiving the top of the casing 10 and a washer 15. 'lhecasing 10 is hrmly fheld between the base 9 and top 13 by an uprightmember 20 which has its lower threaded end `17 engaging in a centrallydis- Xposed threaded aperture 18 in the base 9 and has its upper,threaded eind 19 engaging in a centrally disposed threaded aperture 20in the top 13, said washers 12 and 15 being firmly compressed betweenthe top and bottom members and the casing to form a sealed container.r1`he upright member, for

fconvenience in assembling, is made up of ltwo parts, a lower partI 21andan upper 'part 22.

rllhe suction 'conduit comprises an inclined channel 23 in the basemember 9 connecting with an annular channel 2t therein which in turncommunicates with an inclined channel 25 inthe part 21 of the uprightmember 20 which leads into' a vertical channel 26 in said part 21,.which channel 26 inturn communicates with a vertical channel 27 in thepart 22 of the upright member 20 provided with openings 28 leading intothe reservoir 8. A ipe 29 is connected to the channel 23 int e base andpasses through a portion of the-carbureter C and through a notch o ',inthe butterfly valve V of said carbureter when the device is useddirectly with the carbureter. When the device is used as a separate unita pipe 29 connects the channel 23 with the intake-manifold of the enginecylinder (not shown).

The air conduit comprises a hood 30 having an aperture 31 therein'and inthreaded engagement with .the upper end of the part 22, and an airchannel within said part 22 communicating with the reservoir 8 throughthe channel 27 and the openings 28. It will be noted that this airconduit is formed in the reservoir itself. p

As the valves for they suction and air conduits are both mounted onV thesame stem they will be described together. The suction valve comprises avalve seat 33 at the top of the channel 26 in the member 21 and aconical valve head 39 formed on the lower end of the valve stem 35.'lfhe upper end 36 of the stem 35 is in threaded engagement with asleeve 37 whereby the position ofv the head 39 may be adjusted withrespect to the seat 33. The air-valve comprises a valve head 38 formedon'the upper end of the stem and adapted to be seated in the aperture31. The hood 30-'being'movably secured to the member 2,2 provides foradjusting the air-valve. y

The oat controlled means for moving the stem 35 and' thussimultaneouslyv operating the suction and air valves comprises a pair ofarms 34 pivotally mounted at their -inner forked ends 42 upon pins 41inounted in forked arms 43 on the member 22 adjacent the openings 28.r1`he forked ends 42 of'sa'id arms engage between anges 44 formed on thelower end of the sleeve 37 so that movement of said arms will raise orlower said sleeve and consequently the stem 35 with which it is inthreaded engagement. The arms are raised and lowered by a float looselymounted on the members 21 and 22 and having tubular guides 45 forreceiving guide andstop rods 46 provided with lower stops 47 and upper`stops 48, said rods being pivotally mounted on pins 49 mounted in theforked outer ends 50 of the arms 34. Springs 51 are connected at theirends to the ends of the pins 49 so as to provide a quick movement ofarms and consequently the valve whensaid arms are moved to either sideof dead center. When the float 40 reaches its lowermost position, asshown in Fig. 3, it engages the stops 47 and moves the arms 34downwardly thus movingr the sleeve 37 and stem 35 upwardly to close theair valve and open the suction valve and this movement of the valve isassisted by the springs 51. When the float is in its lower position andthe suctionvalve is open communication is established between thereservoir and the engine cylinder or cylind ers through the suctionconduit and the reclprocation of the piston or pistons within thecylinder or cylinders exhausts the air from the reservoir thus creatinga vacuum within'the reservoir and thus causing the combustible fuel tomove from the supply tank (not shown) through the fuel supply conduitand into the reservoir. As the reservoir lls up during the suctionaction the float rises moving up on the rods 46 until in its uppermostosition it strikes the stops 48`and then quiclfly moves the arms 34upwardly assisted by. the springs 51 and con sequently moves the stem 35downwardly to open the air valve and close the suction valve. Thislpermits air to enter into the container and the fluid therein then flows80 by gravity through the carbureter supply conduit hereinafterdescribed. Thus the float and the linkage operatively connected theretoclose the air valve and open the suction valve when the Heat is'in itslowest 85 position and open the air valve and close the suction valvewhen the reservoir has received its supply of fuel and the float is inits highest position.

The fuel supply conduit 52 is located in the base 9 and leads from theoutside to a point at the Ibottom of the container. A pipe 53 connectssaid conduit with the supply tank (not shown). The supply conduit leadsin at the bottom of the reservoir and below the float so as to preventvaporized gas from escaping through the air conduit at the top of thereservoir and it permits the combustible fuel or Huid to flow in beneath'the fioat and upon the base of the reservoir instead of dropping fromthe top of the reservoir over the float and onto the base. While thefuel supply conduit 52 is shown as open at all times this does notprevent the fuel within the reservoir from flowing into the carburetersupply conduit when the air valve is open for at that time the fuel willflow through both the fuel supply conduit and the carbureter supplyconduit. Though a check valve may be used in the conduit 52, I havefound that the device works easier without it.

The carbureter supply conduit comprises a channel 54 communicating withthe reservoir and a channel 55 communicating with said channel and apipe 56 leading directly to the float or feed chamber 57 of thecarbureter, as shown in Fig. 2, or a coupling 58 to which a pipe (notshown) connects the device with the feed chamber of the carbureter whenthe device is used as a separate unit. In order that the combustiblefluid' will not be sucked back into the reservoir during the'suctionoperation a check valve, such as a ball valve 59, is disposed in thecarbureter supply conduit. When the device is used as a separate unit,as shown in Fig. 6, it should be mounted above the carbureter feedchamber so that when the air valve is open and the suction valve isclosed nalaat? the Huid in the reservoir Will flow bypgravity throughthe carbureter supply conduit into the carbureter.

When the device is used directly with the carbureter, as shown inlligs.' l to 5, the reservoir 8 is mounted directly upon the feedingchamber or float chamber 57 of the carbureter. The I'ioat chamber 57comprises 6 8 of the base 9. A threaded screw plug 69l is centrallydisposed in the base 61 and the pipe 56 is in threaded engagement withsaid plug at its lower end and in threaded en? gagement with the member21 at its upper end the connection between the two bases permitting themto be brought up tight on the washers adjacent the edges of the casing64 to form a fluid tight chamber. This Hoat chamber is provided with afloat controlled valve comprising an inverted conical valve head 70mounted on a stem 71 having threaded engagement with a sleeve 72 mountedin the pipe 56 to permit adjustment of said valve with respect to itsseat 73 in the top of the pipe 56. rllhe means for operating the feedchamber control valve as it will be called, comprises a pair of forkedarms 74 Whose forked ends 75 engage spaced apart' flanges 76 on thesleeve 72, said arms being pivotally carried by pins 7 7 mounted onforked arms 78 formed on the pipe 56 adjacent the outlet 79. Outlets 80are also provided in the lower end of the pipe 56.

' The arms 74 have weighted ends 81 which are adapted to normally openthe feed chamber supply valve through the connection with the stem 71,but which are adapted to be closed" by the float 82 looselymounted andguided on the pipe 56. To permitthe gravity feed of the fluid from thechamber 57 a vent 83 is formed in the base 9 leading from the outside ofsaid base to the chamber '57.

Considering the device as a separate unit, the operation is as followsz-On the reciprocation ofthe piston or pistons within the enginecylinder or cylinders, the float 40, being in its lowered position, thesuction conduit being open and the air-conduit be* ing closed, thecombustible liquid fuel passes through the fuel supply conduit into thereservoir due to the vacuum created in the reservoir. Under theseconditions the check valve in the carbureter-supply conduitautoymatically closes to prevent back-feed from the carbureter. As thereservoir fills up the float is carried up by the Huid and Wherf ,it hasreached the desired height the position of the valveV stern is reversedby the action of thisk float on the valve operating mecha-A nism,previously described and on its reversal, the suction conduit is closedand the air conduit opened. @n the opening of the air conduit thecombustible fluid is free to move under the action of gravity throughthe carbureter supply conduit to the car,-v bureter. rlhough the fuel iscontinually being used by the engine and thus being exhausted from thecarbureter, this Will not in' anyway affect the operation of the deviceas the supply tank is filled so rapidly that the operation of thecarbureter check valve due to the decrease of gas in the carbureter willnot destroy the vacuum in Vthe supply` tank nor hinder the'proper supplyof fuel to the carbureter. Before the engine can exhaust enough gas tocause the check valve in the carbureter inlet boWl to open the suctionaction in the device itself and the opening of the air valve therein hastaken .place to replenishthe supply of gas used by the engine. j

Considering the device as incorporated with the carbureter its action isthe same as when used as a separate unit but the fluid through thecarbureter supply conduit passes directly into the float chamber of thecarbureter, the bottom of the reservoir forming the top of the floatchamber, and the lioat controlled valve for said chamber being disposedinthe carbureter supply conduit.

rllhe invention thus exemplifies` a new and f improved form of vacuumfeeddevice which is well adapted for the purpose described.

i rllhe invention is not to beV restricted .to

the details of construction, unless necessary,

it being my intention to claiml it as broadly as will be permitted bythe state of the art.

What l claim as my invention is:

l. ln a vacuum feed device, the combination of a reservoir comprising abase, a top, a casing interposed between said base and top, and meansfor detachably securing said base,

top, and casing together, comprisinga memv ber detachably secured to thetop and base,

a casing interposed between said base and,

top, and means for securing said base, top, andv casing togethercomprising a member detachably secured to the top and base, alined airand suction conduits in said member, valves in. said alined conduits,doat controlled means for operating said valves, a fuel supply conduitleadingl to the reserk i i A Lamai? voir, a carbureter supply conduitleading from the reservoir, and a valve in said carbureter supplyconduit for preventing backiiow of the fuel into the reservoir.

3. In a vacuum feed device, the combina-r tion of a reservoir, a fuelsupply'conduitV leading thereto, alined air/and suction conduitscommunicating with the reservoir and provided with valve seats, a valvesleeve member within said alined conduits, a valve stem adjustablymounted in said sleeve member and carrying valve heads for engagementwith said valve seats, float controlled means for operating said valvestem, a carbureter supply conduit leading from the reservoir` and asuction operated valve in said carbureter supply conduit.

4. In a vacuum feed device, the combination, of a reservoir, a fuelsupply conduit leading thereto, an air conduit leading thereto, anengine suction conduit leading therefrom, a valve in said air conduit, avalve in said suction conduit, a member operatively connected to saidvalves, a iioat within said reservoir, means for operating said memberincluding lever arms engaging said member. guide rods for said iioatcarried by said lever arms, resilient means connected to Said lever armsfor assisting the action of the float, stops on said rods for engagingsaid float, a carbureter supply conduit leading from the reservoir, andmeans for preventing back feed of the fuel in the carburetersupplyconduit to the reservoir.

5. Ina vacuum fluid fuel feed device, the combination of a reservoir, afuel supply conduit leading thereto, an upright member disposed withinthe reservoir and having a channel therein provided with an openingcommunicating with said reservoir, an air conduit and a suction conduitcommunicating with said channel, a valve in the air conduit, a valve inthe suction conduit, ioat controlled means simultaneously operating bothof said from, a valve in said air conduit, a valve in said suctionconduit, 'a member operatively connected to said valves, a float withinsaid reservoir, means controlled by the float `for operating said memberincluding lever arms engaging said member, guide rods for said iioatcarried by said lever arms, stops on said rods for engaging saidl ioat,a carbureter supply conduit leadlng from the reservoir, and means forpreventing back feed of the fuel in the carbureter-supply conduit toAthe reservoir.

7. The combination, with the inlet bowl of a carbureter, of a vacuumfluid fuel device detachably mounted on and forming the top of said bowlcomprising a reservoir having its lbase detachably secured to the inletbowl to form the top thereof, a carbureter supply conduit leading fromthe reservoir to said inlet bowl, a fuel inlet valve in said carburetersupply conduit to regulate the amount of fuel supplied to bowl, a fuelsupply conduit leading to said reservoir, an air conduit leading to saidreservoir, an engine suction conduit leading from said reservoir, avalve in the air conduit, a valve in the suction conduit, means withinthe reservoir for operating said valves, and a valve in the carburetersupply conduit for preventing backflow of the fuel into the reservoir.

8. 'Ihe combination, with the inlet bowl of a carbureter, of a reservoircomprising a base, a top, a casing interposed between said base and top,means for detachably securing said base, top and casing together, saidbase forming the top of the inlet bowl, means for detachably securingsaid base to said bowl, a fuel supply conduit leading to said reservoir,an air conduit and a suction conduit leading to said reservoir, valvesin said air and suction conduits respectively, float controlled meansfor operating said valves, a carbureter supply conduit leading from thereservoir direct to the bowl, a check valve in said -carbureter supplyconduit, and means for controlling the flow of fuel from the reservoirto the bowl.

9. The combination, with the inlet bowl of a carbureter, of a reservoircomprising a base, a top, a casing interposed between said base and top,means for detachably securing said base, top and casing together, saidbase forming the top of the inlet bowl, a carbureter supply conduitleading from the reservoir into the bowl and including a pipe having adetachable connection with the reservoir base and the bowl to secure thereservoir on the bowl,`a fuel supply conduit leading to said reservoir,an air conduit and a suction conduit leading to said reservoir, valvesin said air and suction conduits respectively, float-controlled meansfor operating said valves, a check-valve 1n the carbureter supplyconduit, and means for controlling the flow of fuel from the reservoirto the bowl.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

OSCAR L. LOUGHEAD.

